Even though we are aware that premature beats, such as ventricular contractions (PVCs) or atrial spasms (PACs), are benign, they can nonetheless be exceedingly distressing.
Many people experience these extra-systoles in waves that seem arbitrary and mysterious. They might increase anxiety by being unpredictable.
A reader recently reported his attempt to determine how much coffee he consumes affects how frequently he experiences his symptomatic PVCs, but he ran into one of the many the “variables that complicated his biohacking endeavours.
The amount of caffeine you consume
Your daily consumption of caffeine is advised to not exceed 400 milligrammes.1 That is roughly four cups of freshly prepared black coffee. However, this suggested dosage may change based on your sensitivity.
Take note when caffeine intake starts to make you nervous or if it causes your heart rate to spike significantly. Be cautious of how much coffee you ingest.
A simple approach to reduce your caffeine intake is to switch to decaf espresso, which offers 8 to 15 mg of caffeine per cup.
The signs and effects of caffeine consumption
Caffeine and other stimulants like them can briefly disrupt the heart’s rhythm and lead to preterm ventricular contractions (PVCs), which are additional heartbeats that occur before the next anticipated regular heartbeat.
Sometimes you could experience this as your heart “skipping” a beat. While sporadic PVCs may not harm anyone, people with established heart issues should be especially aware of how frequently they occur.
If you’ve had PVCs, whether they were caused by caffeine or not, talk to your doctor regarding the best course of action.
Guidelines for heart-healthy coffee consumption
For the most part, drinking a daily cup of tea or coffee won’t harm your heart. Keep in mind these straightforward actions to aid you in moderation:
• Make sure to make your coffee in a heart-healthy manner. Reduce the amount of sugar you add, and/or substitute healthier milks for whole milk.
• If you are caffeine-sensitive, try to limit the amount of caffeine you consume from other beverages, such as energy and soft drinks. It is recommended to speak with your doctor about the appropriate levels of caffeine you consume if you already have a heart issue.
• The key is to monitor your coffee intake and consult your doctor to better understand how it may damage your heart.
The Ticker and the Caffeine
Caffeine is frequently mentioned as a potential risk factor for heart arrhythmias called premature atrial or ventricular contractions (PACs and PVCs), which can result in palpitations or additional heartbeats.
Someone who has recently undergone a PAC or PVC may casually mention that they felt their coronary arteries skip a beat.
This isn’t exactly the case because an extra beat enters the rhythm earlier than usual, generating a delay before a harder beat than usual. You can feel the beat that is stronger.
After coffee, skipped heartbeats are usually harmless
Even while the CRAVE data indicated a rise in heart palpitations during coffee days, this isn’t necessarily cause for concern. Everyone occasionally gets heart palpitations, which might feel like your heart is thumping or skipping a beat.
Rarely do they indicate a significant issue. Dangerous cardiac rhythms were not more likely to occur in CRAVE research participants.
That does not imply, however, that everyone can safely use caffeine. It’s critical to take into account two main elements while analysing the study’s findings:
1. Most participants drank three or less cups of coffee each day, which is a moderate amount.
2. These people were healthy and young, with no cardiac conditions that could be impacted by coffee usage.
Consult your doctor about whether espresso is safe for you if you have a history of heart disease or if you start to suffer new or more frequent PVCs. A few additional beats here and there are common, but a racing heart, especially one that lasts for several minutes to hours, can be more worrisome.
Treatment and Prevention of Pvcs
Inform your physician of any PVC symptoms you experience so they can ascertain whether an underlying condition, such as another rhythm disorder, a major cardiac condition, anxiety, anaemia, or infections, needs to be treated.
Any symptoms, such as dizziness or fainting, should also be reported.
Occasional PVCs are innocuous in people with healthy hearts and typically go away on themselves without needing any therapy.
Some PVC effects can be controlled by altering one’s lifestyle, such as reducing stress and coffee, alcohol, and tobacco use.
Patients who regularly have PVCs may benefit from medicines such as calcium and beta blockers. A catheter treatment may be suggested for people with significant symptoms.
Conclusion
Caffeine and other stimulants like them can briefly disrupt the heart’s rhythm and lead to preterm ventricular contractions (PVCs), which are additional heartbeats that occur before the next anticipated regular heartbeat. Sometimes you could experience this as your heart “skipping” a beat.